Unofficial Preview Round 23, Friday, August 15th 8.20pm AEST @Optus v Dockers.

[Lockie]

Wonder why we dripped Smith? Glad to see Starc and Lester back and see newbie Beecken

 

[M Malice]

I like the changes, Starce and Froggy back in was obvious, Day for Smith was a no brainer, love the Beecken debut hopefully he is not the sub, Reville sub please.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Like Beecken's inclusion.

 

[mattsmob]

Yeah happy with the changes, think Bruce should be the sub, Beecken the 7th defender off the bench so makes sense to me. Understand Day in for Smith but I’d still like to see Gallop in there, feels like more of a next season thing at this point though

 

[DevRoboGun]

I'm all for debutants but we have had all year to give Beecken a taste. And now in a cut throat quasi elimination final at one of the most hostile grounds against a team 11 from their last 12. Let's hope its another Darcy Wilmot debut.

Is Beecken quick and can he defend?

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

Charlie isn't a problem, he's playing the defensive small forward role Linc used to play, one that doesn't come naturally to him. There's no doubt he's down on goal confidence but he works his arse off every week, which might be why his accuracy is down. To call him a problem is just damn right insulting to him, Fages and the whole club. Without his presence and work rate we'd have way less hope keeping the ball in our forward half.

he’d probably still be at 2.2 if he kicked straight. Not going without opportunities

 

[SizeMatters]

Thanks for the info. So the sort of thing that might come good start of next year?

IMO hippy is an enigma. Strange shape. Not really suited to any one position. But tries hard, makes a contest, and is great at little tap ons / handballs / shepherds.

I do think if he could get on the lead more he could get an extra shot or two a game at goal. 204cm and long arms hard to deal with. But maybe he is being asked to clear f50 for morris.

I was at the Pies game and he was truely awful. I made a post about Hipwood and blocking space up inside 50. He was just standing in space rarely leading or anything. Unsure on reasons but if he’s been clearly tasked with clearing the f50 out then it makes sense to me. I didn’t really notice him much against swans outside his turnovers.

 

[SizeMatters]

Where will beecken play?

 

[Bucking Beads]

Sam Day

14

Sam Day

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

4.6

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

3.6

1star

HB

4.4

3star

M

1.9

2star

T

1.5

2star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.2

3star

as second ruck gives us the best balance. Excited to see how Beecken goes. Hoping he's not the sub. I think all the changes are spot on tbh. Not sure Starcevich actually plays though.

 

[Darren Downunder]

I'm all for debutants but we have had all year to give Beecken a taste. And now in a cut throat quasi elimination final at one of the most hostile grounds against a team 11 from their last 12. Let's hope its another Darcy Wilmot debut.

Is Beecken quick and can he defend?

Beecken played a blinder in the VFL last week. Fingers crossed his form holds.
I honestly don’t see what the match committee see in Reville.
I would have preferred Dev Robertson’s pace and pressure to 5 accurate kicks but what do I know.

 

[mattsmob]

Where will beecken play?

Based on the team would assume half back. Unless he’s the sub then maybe on the wing when he comes on

 

[Ceebee]

Reckon that’s a pretty good team .

 

[M Malice]

Sam Day as second ruck gives us the best balance. Excited to see how Beecken goes. Hoping he's not the sub. I think all the changes are spot on tbh. Not sure Starcevich actually plays though.

Shadeau Brain as one of the emergencies could be a hint... although I find it hard to believe they would put Starcevich on a long haul flight if he wasn't certain of playing, any doubt would have just left him in Brisbane to concentrate on recovery.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Outs- Tom Doedee, Henry Smith, Will McLachlan, Bruce Reville.

Ins- Ryan Lester, Brandon Starcevich, Sam Day, Luke Beecken.

Sub- Bruce Reville.

Jeez, you got it almost bang on, just Dev instead of Bruce.

I'm happy to see Beecken in.

 

[Scubaveg]

What ahppened to Doedee?

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I'm all for debutants but we have had all year to give Beecken a taste. And now in a cut throat quasi elimination final at one of the most hostile grounds against a team 11 from their last 12. Let's hope its another Darcy Wilmot debut.

He's 24, he won't be overawed.

Is Beecken quick and can he defend?

Yes and yes. His real weapon is his kicking though.

Where will beecken play?

7th defender.

 

[JasRulz63]

What ahppened to Doedee?

"Knee soreness" according to the Lions website.

 

[Section 5]

Pretty much what i thought although i figured Starch would miss again with finals around the corner.
Brain amongst the emergencies in case Starch has a hiccup.

I would like to see Fletcher back on the wing. He gets named wing but always plays defense.
Where Fletcher plays will determine who gets the sub role

Beecken: Plays defense
Reville: Mainly Wing & Forward at AFL level but in Defense the last 2 weeks
Marshall: Wing & Forward

If Fletcher plays wing i think Marshall the likely sub

I think we all want to see how Beecken plays in a backline that has a lockdown defender like Starch

Glad Day got another chance but he needs to do more to make that spot his for the rest of the year.
This forward ruck position needs to be settled before finals.

And one final thing no more injuries

 

[JasRulz63]

Shadeau Brain as one of the emergencies could be a hint... although I find it hard to believe they would put Starcevich on a long haul flight if he wasn't certain of playing, any doubt would have just left him in Brisbane to concentrate on recovery.

Could be an opportunity to be around the team and see family though. Wouldn't be many opportunities to get back to WA during the year.

 

[M Malice]

"Knee soreness" according to the Lions website.

It's a worry, IMO Tom has this coming off season to get his knee issues finally sorted, starting to have doubts he will ever get back to anywhere near his best footy.... OOC 2027, I wonder if there were triggers involved to get him to 2027.

 

[mattsmob]

Fair chance the Doedee injury is a bit of a soft drop as well

 

[JasRulz63]

Fair chance the Doedee injury is a bit of a soft drop as well

I had this thought too.

 

[Thedeftouch]

Good changes overall. I think we will look a different team with Lester and Starcevich in defence

 

[Sproj]

Well if we are going to win it all again, this team really is just about the best we can roll out. We just have to get it done.

 

[WheildonTheAxe]

Really like those ins; three very experienced heads will sure up our spine plus keen to see Beeckon.

I think we ticked a little box with Doedee, we'll be hoping we don't need to play him again this year and build towards 26 but he's an option if required.